On 1/2/07, Valdis.Kletnieks@vt.edu <Valdis.Kletnieks@vt.edu> wrote:> The binary blob in question is several megabytes in size. Now, even> totally *ignoring* who knowingly licensed/stole/whatever IP from who,> that *still* leaves the problem of trying to write several megabytes of> code that doesn't infringe on anybody's IP - particularly some of those> vague submarine patents that should have been killed on "prior art" or> "obviousness" grounds.>> So tell me - how *do* you release that much code without worrying about IP> issues?

I think you're repeating a myth that has become a common part ofhacker lore in recent years. It's caused by how little we know aboutsoftware patents. The myth is that if you release source code whichviolates someone's patent that is somehow worse than if you releasebinaries that violate someone's patent. This is clearly, obviously,false. If you're practising the invention without a license in yoursource code then you're practising the invention without a license inbinaries compiled from that source code. Period.

Nvidia are not releasing source code to their drivers for one reason:it's not their culture. They don't see the need. They don't see thebenefit.